Cunliffe not Mr Popular but policies are

Labour's finance spokesman David Cunliffe thanked "both Labour voters" in the audience of 200 at the Mood of the Boardroom debate, after 90 per cent who answered the Herald survey said they wanted Bill English as Finance Minister.

But some Labour policies, such as compulsory KiwiSaver and a capital gains tax, found favour.

Labour has more to come and Cunliffe said his party would today unveil a package of measures around business growth and economic development. As thing stood, "we just can't milk enough cows, dig enough holes to get a first world standard of living".

Labour's package would aim to develop high value exports.

"We have not yet cracked that. We must do it, doesn't matter who's in power you will be in the front row of that scrum," he told the audience.